Fragmentation and Wholeness in Modernity

In Chapter 6 of "Hospicing Modernity," Vanessa Machado De Oliveira explores the fragmentation inherent in modernity as highlighted by scholars like Jacqui Alexander and Denise Ferreira da Silva. Alexander discusses how enforced separations affect our souls, highlighting a yearning for wholeness that modern forms of coalition-building fail to address. De Oliveira agrees that these separations perpetuate a cycle of pain and dismemberment, suggesting the need for a profound transformation that involves "getting to zero."

Ferreira da Silva adds to this notion by contrasting the “Ordered World” of European Enlightenment with a “World as a Plenum,” advocating for the release of imagination from certainty and categorical thinking. This perspective criticizes the limitations of traditional political frameworks and their insufficiency in fostering genuine change.

The "Plus One"/"Minus One" Dynamic

Within the modernity framework, De Oliveira highlights the work of Pajé Barbosa Pitaguary, who identifies the core issue of separability leading to a psychological dynamic in which individuals view themselves as either “plus one” or “minus one” compared to others. This binary generates a constant pursuit of validation to avoid feeling "less than" or like "trash." Pitaguary suggests that "getting to zero" is the necessary detox from this sense of separability and superiority, aligning with Ferreira da Silva's vision of experiencing existence as a plenum.

De Oliveira reflects on the significance of recognizing the limitations of human knowledge and its cultural bounds, emphasizing that in "getting to zero," humans must become more attuned to the intelligence of the living planet. This shift will not be without its challenges, as it entails letting go of the clutter that modernity has introduced, which impedes us from connecting with a deeper bio-intelligence.

Negotiating Power and Legibility within Modernity

De Oliveira discusses the dichotomy between negotiating power within modernity and remaining true to the goal of getting to zero. Modern politics operates on terms of exceptionalism, exaltedness, and emancipation, which are tied to colonial frames and may lead to temporary harm reduction but fail to address the roots of systemic harm. This tension illustrates the complexity of engaging in transformative work while navigating a system steeped in the very issues one wishes to dismantle.

The acknowledgment of these colonial frames is crucial, yet it is a challenging endeavor as it requires a deep understanding of how hierarchical dynamics shape relations, often reinforcing the "plus one"/"minus one" hierarchy in subtle and overt ways, even within institutions purportedly committed to equity and inclusion.

Brutal Kindness and Personal Risks

In her personal reflections, De Oliveira contemplates the risks involved in bringing private stories into public discourse, particularly for nonwhite women. The expectation for oppressed and marginalized groups to share their traumatic experiences can lead to retraumatization and is often a condition for inclusion. She points to the insidious ways racism and sexism manifest in her professional life as a university professor.

The perpetuation of "Brutal Kindness," a collectively written poem with her students, showcases the brutal realities of racism and the resulting vulnerabilities. De Oliveira unravels how the act of sharing difficult experiences can be perilous, demonstrating the high stakes of engaging in critical dialogues about race and inclusion.

Decolonizing Encounters in Art and Education

The collaboration between De Oliveira and Elwood Jimmy is explored in "Towards Braiding," where they address the difficulties encountered in efforts to decolonize and Indigenize spaces, often leading to disillusionment and damage. They highlight ten "Ds" of disillusionment that can arise when Indigenous people are tokenized in the decolonization process, detailing a cycle of mistreatment and injustice often masked by institutional desires for surface-level diversity and inclusion.

Their work goes beyond identifying problems to offering creative strategies for making visible the nuanced dynamics of inclusion and the labor, often unrecognized, that marginalized people undertake within such institutional settings. These interventions aim to facilitate more genuine partnerships and understanding of the heavy toll taken by superficial diversity efforts.

Conclusion: Beyond Equity and Inclusion

De Oliveira concludes by challenging the sufficiency of equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives within modernity. While the chapter underscores the importance of harm reduction through representation, it is adamant that true transformation cannot occur within the bounds of modernity's hierarchical structures. The goal of "getting to zero" is not simply a metaphor but an ethical and political compass that necessitates disinvestment from destructive modern desires and actions. This process calls for deep respect and skepticism for political frameworks and the constant reminder that no single person or group holds the ultimate solution to our interdependent challenges.